Florida roads can be dangerous. Thousands of people are killed or injured on Florida roads each year. Many of those deaths and injuries are caused by head-on collisions in Tampa.
If you were injured in a head-on accident, you might be entitled to compensation. A Tampa car accident lawyer can bolster your efforts to recover money for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers has over 60 years of combined experience with car accident cases. Contact us today for a free consultation in Tampa at (813) 686-7588 to discuss your case.
How Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Head-On Crash in Tampa
Head-on crashes are among the most serious motor vehicle accidents possible. If someone else caused your accident, they should be responsible for your damages. Our Tampa personal injury attorneys can help you hold them liable for your accident-related losses.
At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve recovered $100 million in settlements and judgments for our clients. Our Board-Certified attorneys bring the same passion and commitment to every client that comes through our doors.
You can count on our firm to:
- Investigate your accident to gather evidence and identify the responsible parties
- Evaluate the extent of your damages related to the crash
- Negotiate with insurers for maximum compensation
- Take your case to trial if the at-fault parties won’t offer a fair settlement
If you have been injured in a head-on collision, contact our Tampa personal injury attorneys today for a free consultation.
What is a Head-On Crash?
A head-on crash is a collision involving the front end of a vehicle. These accidents are also referred to as frontal impact accidents.
In a single-vehicle accident, a head-on crash occurs when a vehicle slams into a stationary object. A front-to-front collision between two vehicles is common at intersections or roads that do not have a barrier between opposing lanes of traffic.
Head-on crashes accounted for 57 percent of traffic deaths in a year. According to figures from the IIHS, 12,785 people died in car crashes involving a frontal impact. In single-vehicle accidents, the number of deaths was 54 percent, increasing to 59 percent for multiple-vehicle car crashes.
What Are Common Causes of Head-On Collisions?
One or more factors may contribute to the cause of a head-on car accident. Many of the factors are driver-related, such as:
- Driving the wrong way
- Turning into on-coming traffic (failure to yield the right of way)
- Falling asleep at the wheel (drowsy driving)
- Impaired driving (drunk driving and drugged driving)
- Failing to obey traffic signs
- Improper turning or executing wide turns (U-turn accidents, left-turn accidents)
- Failing to gauge the distance to pass (improper passing)
- Distracted driving, including cell phone use and texting while driving
- Speeding around curves
- Swerving or drifting into another lane
In some cases, environment-related factors may play a role in the cause of a front-impact accident.
Poor visibility because of weather conditions or obstacles in the road could cause a driver to swerve into oncoming traffic. Losing control of a vehicle because of defective road conditions or tire blowouts could also be a factor in a head-on accident. Obstacles in the road and altered road patterns because of construction could lead to a head-on accident.
Why Are Tampa Head-On Accidents So Dangerous?
These car accidents are dangerous because they generally occur at or near normal driving speeds for at least one vehicle. The result is a tremendous amount of energy exerted on the vehicles and the occupants. Additionally, at least one vehicle will reduce its speed instantly to zero and could have a momentary acceleration in the opposite direction.
Even if the seat belts and airbags work, they cannot absorb this much energy. Furthermore, a head-on collision can crumple the front of the vehicle, causing the engine and other parts to be forced into the vehicle’s cabin. The result is the persons sitting in the front seat are crushed.
What Are Common Injuries Caused by Head-On Crashes?
Vehicle occupants can sustain catastrophic injuries and life-threatening conditions because of the mechanics and physics involved in a front-to-front collision. Injuries that are commonly caused by head-on crashes include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Airbag injuries
- Chest and internal organ injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Puncture wounds and lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Loss of limits and amputations
- Neck and back injuries
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue injuries
- Burns
- Wrongful death
Severe injuries often require extensive medical treatment. The recovery period may be long and require one or more vocational and rehabilitative therapies. Many victims may be unable to work for months following a head-on crash.
Can I Recover Compensation for Injuries Caused by a Head-On Crash in Tampa?
The damages caused by a head-on accident could total hundreds of thousands of dollars. The cost of treating traumatic injuries is expensive. In the case of wrongful death or permanent disability, the damages could total millions of dollars over a person’s lifetime.
You can recover compensation for injuries sustained in a head-on crash.
Florida is a no-fault car insurance state. Therefore, all drivers must carry a minimum of $10,000 in PIP coverage. However, this amount does not come close to paying the damages for severe injuries.
If another person caused the head-on crash, that person could be held liable for damages. However, your injuries must meet the serious injury threshold for you to sue the at-fault driver.
If you sustained serious injuries, you could be entitled to receive compensation for:
- Past and future cost of medical care and personal care
- Past and future lost wages and benefits
- Decreases in your earning potential
- Pain and suffering, including mental anguish, emotional distress, and physical pain
- Disability and impairments
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Decrease in quality of life
- Other out-of-pocket expenses, including travel to and from medical appointments and help with household chores
A Tampa car accident lawyer can review your case to determine if your injuries meet the statutory requirement to file a personal injury lawsuit. An attorney can also help you document the severity of your injuries to calculate the value of your damages accurately.
Is There a Deadline for Filing a Lawsuit for a Head-On Crash?
Yes, there are deadlines for filing a personal injury lawsuit. In many cases, you have two years from the car accident date to file a lawsuit. However, that deadline could change depending on the facts of your case.
It’s important to note that the Florida statute of limitations used to give accident victims four years to file a lawsuit, but the law was updated on March 24, 2023. So, if your Tampa head-on collision happened after that date, you have two years to take action.
It is best to speak with an accident attorney in Tampa as soon as possible to avoid losing your right to pursue legal action against the driver who caused the head-on accident.
Contact An Auto Accident Lawyer in Tampa for a Free Consultation
Did a negligent driver injure you during a head-on crash? Have you lost a family member due to a head-on accident?
If so, the attorneys of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Contact our law firm to request your free case review with a Tampa head-on crashes attorney. We want to help you recover the money you deserve for your pain, suffering, and financial losses.
At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of car accident claims in Tampa, including:
- Drunk driving accidents
- Highway crashes
- Parking lot accidents
- Rear-end accidents
- Recreational vehicle accidents
- Red and yellow light crashes
- Rollover accidents
- Self-driving accidents
- Uninsured motorists claims
Additional Car Accident Resources
- Can I Be Compensated for Pre-Existing Conditions After a Car Accident in Tampa?
- Car Accident FAQs
- Car Accident Liability
- Car Color & Crash Risk in the Tampa Bay Area
- Common Car Accident Scenarios in Tampa- Causes & Determining Fault
- Defective Tire Car Accidents in Tampa, FL
- Do I Need a Lawyer After a Hit-and-Run Accident in Tampa?
- Florida Car Accident Claims Process
- How Long Will My Car Accident Case Take To Settle in Tampa, FL?
- Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Tampa
- Passenger Negligence
- Questions To Ask a Lawyer After a Car Accident
- Tampa Car Accident Statistics
- Types of Car Accidents
- What if the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?
- What To Do After a Car Accident?
- Who Is at Fault for My Tampa Car Accident?